The Apostle John gave us a beautiful description of what happened the morning it was discovered that Jesus, who had been crucified, was no longer in the tomb where they had laid Him. The Bible says in John 20:1-10:
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved [John]. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him! Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead. Then they went home.
The next scene is equally miraculous because Jesus appears to Mary:
Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message (verses 11-18).
Jesus was risen! He was raised from the dead by the glory of God three days after His crucifixion. That’s why we call it the Resurrection and refer to the Sunday that we celebrate this glorious event in our Christian faith as Resurrection Sunday. It’s what paved the way for us to be in Christ.
“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Romans 6:4-5, NKJV).
He Is Risen
Yes, the world calls it Easter Sunday. It’s a holiday celebrated by Christians and non-Christians alike, often characterized by dying eggs, hiding and finding them, chocolate bunnies, baskets and dinners that include traditional dishes. While companies who produce “Christian” products have taken Easter traditions and created a “Christian” version of eggs, bunnies and such, it remains a holy holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus!
Granted, most of us grew up calling it Easter Sunday, celebrating it in our churches even while fully acknowledging the heart of the celebration is Jesus’ resurrection. We have fond memories of Easter baskets, Easter egg hunts and chomping down on chocolate bunnies—something many of us may still enjoy. But how much better to redirect our focus even further to the heart of the holy day…the Resurrection of Jesus!
For decades, Kenneth Copeland and his family, along with the Eagle Mountain International Church family, have called it Resurrection Sunday, because that is what we celebrate. It is the day that changed the course of history. It is the day Jesus rose from the dead, having been to the depths of hell where He took the keys to death, hell and the grave from Satan himself (Revelation 1:18). It is the day that fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies. It is the day that the glory of God made a way for us to be free from the power of the devil.
What a day to celebrate! As you prepare for Holy Week, when many churches give special attention to the days leading up to Resurrection Sunday, focus your heart on the Resurrection. Focus your heart on all that it means for the believer—that we can live free, whole, healed and prosperous because of what Jesus did for us. Focus your heart on the fact that HE IS RISEN.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!